If Scuds is on this team he will be the 7th best D, but will play over a guy like Dumoulin. That's bull crap and shouldn't happen. Keeping him for any reason is not worth it. What's bunk is the notion that he isn't hurting anything, when all of the numbers show he sucks and is in fact hurting us. Chorney and Dumo outplayed him. A prospect and a career AHL guy! That says plenty. Now whether you choose to see that is a different story.
- usethe1-2-2

Fancy stats have some value ... Bottom line is this team lost 4 games to the rags 2 1 with scuds playing big minutes. .. How is he a problem outside of his contract as a 6-8 d man? This blogger has hated on scuds for more then a year ... and there is some substance .. But the idea that 1. He's terrible or 2. He s in the way of the kids is complete bs ... Letang coming off two major concussions leaving love joy as the only reliable veteran d man... There not signing franson or green.... Scuds is the lesser of two evils....
Pens may move sutter and or other parts for picks or a forward... But most likely whatever cap is left after signing cole, dumo and Bennett ( if not traded) will go to signing at least one if not several forwards

Does everyone forget that BB was a healthy scratch for Tanner Glass?
- sammy87

Does everyone forget we fired that coach for improper usage of players including HOF right wings playing left wing?

What is the point?
- usethe1-2-2

He brought up Skinner having three concussions in four years or something to that effect, which he said it was worse than Letang. I countered, Letang had two concussions in the same time frame and also suffered a stroke within that time period. That would be a worse period for Letang than Skinner. Not normal for a 26 or 27 year old professional athlete to have a stroke.

That is the point ...

Fancy stats have some value ... Bottom line is this team lost 4 games to the rags 2 1 with scuds playing big minutes. .. How is he a problem outside of his contract as a 6-8 d man? This blogger has hated on scuds for more then a year ... and there is some substance .. But the idea that 1. He's terrible or 2. He s in the way of the kids is complete bs ... Letang coming off two major concussions leaving love joy as the only reliable veteran d man... There not signing franson or green.... Scuds is the lesser of two evils....
- Brianandr1

Yes and his complete ineptitude to generate any viable offense is a reason we lost. He was outplayed by prospects. His 3.375 cap hit is a waste of space since we have suitable replacements with higher upside.

Fancy stats have some value ... Bottom line is this team lost 4 games to the rags 2 1 with scuds playing big minutes. .. How is he a problem outside of his contract as a 6-8 d man? This blogger has hated on scuds for more then a year ... and there is some substance .. But the idea that 1. He's terrible or 2. He s in the way of the kids is complete bs ... Letang coming off two major concussions leaving love joy as the only reliable veteran d man... There not signing franson or green.... Scuds is the lesser of two evils....
- Brianandr1

Or just maybe DP, Dumo, Harrington just aren't that good. They could have traded Despres for a F, but instead an older Dman, They signed Scuds, Swapped Bortz for another D. Bortz was ahead of them to begin with, there is talk that Martin might come back, they need a mid pairing Dman anyway....I know Harrington is the furthest away, DP seemed OK, Dumo just blended in, but I wouldn't be surprised if 2/3 just fade away.

He brought up Skinner having three concussions in four years or something to that effect, which he said it was worse than Letang. I countered, Letang had two concussions in the same time frame and also suffered a stroke within that time period. That would be a worse period for Letang than Skinner. Not normal for a 26 or 27 year old professional athlete to have a stroke.

That is the point ...
- Oneonta Penguin

Heart condition, could happen to anyone. We aren't getting Skinner either. He would be sent for a return like ROR or a suitable D talent in a top four mold. We won't give up Pouliot or Matta so...

Does everyone forget we fired that coach for improper usage of players including HOF right wings playing left wing?
- usethe1-2-2

Then the next coach healthy scratched him again in the regular season and playoffs.

Or just maybe DP, Dumo, Harrington just aren't that good. They could have traded Despres for a F, but instead an older Dman, They signed Scuds, Swapped Bortz for another D. Bortz was ahead of them to begin with, there is talk that Martin might come back, they need a mid pairing Dman anyway....I know Harrington is the furthest away, DP seemed OK, Dumo just blended in, but I wouldn't be surprised if 2/3 just fade away.
- sammy87

Does it rain on you everyday?

Then the next coach healthy scratched him again in the regular season and playoffs.
- sammy87

Actually, I think he was injured like always.

Actually, I think he was injured like always.
- jfkst1

When he came back mid season he was a healthy scratch.

Then the next coach healthy scratched him again in the regular season and playoffs.
- sammy87

Complications from the knee injury. He was wearing a brace and struggled to get back on track. No surprise. Bouncing back mid-late season from knee injuries is hard to do.

Scratch Reilly from that list.

http://www.secondcityhock...ckhawks-among-final-three
- sammy87

They still made it further than most other teams that pursued him.

Heart condition, could happen to anyone. We aren't getting Skinner either. He would be sent for a return like ROR or a suitable D talent in a top four mold. We won't give up Pouliot or Matta so...
- usethe1-2-2

We aren't getting Skinner. You are missing the entire point of my conversation with someone else.

Complications from the knee injury. He was wearing a brace and struggled to get back on track. No surprise. Bouncing back mid-late season from knee injuries is hard to do.
- usethe1-2-2

I dont fully believe the story. Seems like a convenient excuse. Kinda like Kuni's iron deficiency.

Does everyone forget that BB was a healthy scratch for Tanner Glass?
- sammy87

Beau is garbage. Tanner Glass offered more at the time of the healthy scratch. That should tell you something about Beau.

They still made it further than most other teams that pursued him.
- jfkst1

I'm not saying Pens are the dumpster of the NHL, but they are trending down and the current situation is not good.

Does everyone forget that BB was a healthy scratch for Tanner Glass?
- sammy87

im not ready to use that absolutely asinine decision making to brand bennett a failure. hes better than glass. but thats not saying anything.

Beau is garbage. Tanner Glass offered more at the time of the healthy scratch. That should tell you something about Beau.
- Oneonta Penguin

Some ppl just dont want to hear the truth.

To me, the Penguins are probably at the most important part of the crosby/malkin era. this is the moment where we can turn this ship around or continue to float into an iceberg (no pun intended).

if the penguins can put together a good offseason, add that winger we need to get 2 top lines, reshuffle the bottom 6 and bring in younger guys ready to play, and also make the adjustments to the defense... this team will get back to the compete level that they need to be.

then we will begin to attract the UFAs and college UFAs that we have missed out on in the last 3-4 years.

or we could just do the same thing as always... have johnston looking for a job next year, rutherford looking for a retirement home, and morehouse and co. looking for another puppet to run this team.

Yes and his complete ineptitude to generate any viable offense is a reason we lost. He was outplayed by prospects. His 3.375 cap hit is a waste of space since we have suitable replacements with higher upside.
- usethe1-2-2

That is completely unfair!!! Letang, maatta , pouliot and erhoff were out... Malkin and Perron were playing hurt ... Scuds was asked to play against the opponents top guys for 20 plus minutes a night and did a damn good job!!! I agree his 3.3 is an issue and if he can be traded so be it... Bottom line is that's not what's preventing this team from generating offense ... Injuries and the fact that the Rangers were better is the issue..

I'm not saying Pens are the dumpster of the NHL, but they are trending down and the current situation is not good.
- sammy87

yes. the trend isnt good.

but things can change fast. im not saying they will. or that its even likely. but its possible.

the rags were pretty much the worst possible matchup in the east for the pens. and they were decimated. and it wasnt that lopsided of a series.

do i think the pens are cup contentders? no. not necessarily. but i think they can be if they get a break on at least one player.

If, and that's a huge if, Ek is right and the Pens have interest in Sekera, that would be huge. Signing Sekera instantly makes Dumoulin and Cole expendable, giving us one more trade chip in trying to land a top six winger. Both currently have more trade value than Harrington but can't be moved because they're both gonna be counted on to play vital rolls on blue line this year.
- Victoro311

role
noun

the function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation.
"she greeted us all in her various roles of mother, friend, and daughter"

*****************

roll
verb

move or cause to move in a particular direction by turning over and over on an axis.

"the bottle rolled down the table"

Some ppl just dont want to hear the truth.
- sammy87

if they bring in one decent guy for malkin, i wouldnt be opposed to trying bennett on the other slot for the first 25 games or so.

probably a 50 percent chance he gets hurt. probably a 30 percent chance he cant really cut it about a meh... but theres a 20 percent chance that maybe he works. maybe. if not, then at least they know and can pretty much send him back to the roller rink. at that time, kunitz or dupuis can probably be slotted back up.

however, the other winger needs to be someone decent. not (frank)ing blake comeau, as good as he was in his role.

it all consistently gets back to getting that one winger.

In regards to Martin, this is likely his last contract. IF he resigns here it is because he wants to be in the burgh and will take a discount to stay. To turn around and trade him 8 months later with a ton of term left on his deal would be down right disrespectful and insulting.

To do that to either of them is bad business.
- kfinl170

I disagree. If Martin signs a contract specifying a list of teams he would accept a trade to, then JR has every right to trade him.

if they bring in one decent guy for malkin, i wouldnt be opposed to trying bennett on the other slot for the first 25 games or so.

probably a 50 percent chance he gets hurt. probably a 30 percent chance he cant really cut it about a meh... but theres a 20 percent chance that maybe he works. maybe. if not, then at least they know and can pretty much send him back to the roller rink. at that time, kunitz or dupuis can probably be slotted back up.

however, the other winger needs to be someone decent. not (frank)ing blake comeau, as good as he was in his role.

it all consistently gets back to getting that one winger.
- stayinthefnnet

Pens have 10.9 million dedicated to Kuni, Dupes and Scuds. I dont think any of them should be on the roster at this point. but can't change that.

IMO there are 2 holes in Malkins line needing to be filled. Kuni can't last a whole season in that role anymore. So I dont think he is a good plan B option. Say they get Semin or a comparable player and its a disaster and BB does what he does. 2nd line is garbage again. I think 71 is on a jet to Moscow if Comeau is on his line again. Its 2 wingers and an entire 3rd line needing to be replaced. Unless you can depart from DP your F will be a slight upgrade over Comeau.